Foam-type fire extinguisher



July 23, 1929. o, BQNIFAQE 1,721,896

FOAM TYPE FIRE EXTINGUISHER' Filed Dec. 29, 1924 I l '1 l 4 6 l 4 1| 5'l 6 I? i u mymflf jmnp m 4 if a l L 1 i MIIIIIM I 7 MIIIIINNII OR 2 33311 Patented July 23, 1929.

PATENT OFFICE.

ADDISON o. BONIFACEY, on UTICA, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNEASSIGNMENTS,

TO AMERICAN LA FRANCE AND FOAIVIITE CORPORATION, A CORPORATION OF NEWYORK.

FOAM-TYPE FIRE EXTINGUISHER.

Applicationfiled December 29, 1924. Serial No. 758,518.

The present invention consists in a structure in which the stopple makescontact of small area with the side as well as the top of the stoppleseat so that the risk of sticking from incrustation is reduced to aminimum under all conditions, as for example when the stopple has beendisplaced sidewise to the extent of the lateral movement permitted toit. Under such conditions and even Where the support of the stopple in avertical sense is by a minimum contact area, sticking may still occur asthe result of a deposit or crust forming elsewhere, that is to say,between a marginal portion of the stopple and a'proximate verticalsurface.

The accompanying drawing shows the form of the invention at presentpreferred, Fig. 1 being a side elevation of a foam-type extinguisher offamiliar design, partly broken open;

Figure 2 a larger scale axial section through the seat ring and stopple;

Figure 8 a bottom plan of the stopple;

Figure 4 a side elevation with part in section, and

Figure 5 a detail Vertical section of a form preferred to that shown inthe other figures.

The general construction and mode of op eration of the extinguisher willbe recognized without description. The inner receptacle 1 is providedwith an annular seat ring 2 se cured therein, just below the level ofthe port openings 3 and extending upwardly above such level where itsupper edge forms the stopple seat. This upper edge is preferably formedwith a sharp bevel, but this is not essential, especially if the seatring is stamped up out of sheet metal, as shown in Fig. 5, which isordinarily thin enough for the purpose without bevelling. The upwardextension of the seat ring above the ports 3, pro- The illustratedstopple is provided on its under surface with a number of radial ribs 4of sharp or rounded contour by means of which it rests upon the sharp orthin upper edge of the seat ring, thus producing point bearings with aminimum possibility of sticking. In the present case there are four suchribs and points of bearing, symmetrically arranged, but a less numberwould obviously sufiice. The stopple is held against lateraldisplacement on the seat so that it will not touch the surroundingportions of the receptacle, or cage-bars, betweenthe port-openings 3, towhich it might become stuck by incrustation and for this purpose apartof the 'stopple extends below the top of the seat,

either on the inside or the outside; such part is adapted to havelateral contact with the seat to prevent the stopple from excessivelateralmovement thereon and also to assist in guiding it to aproperly'centralized position when it is put in place. In Fig. 2 theperipheral flange 5 serves this purpose as well as the further purposeof protecting the seat from splashed liquid. In Fig. 5 the main bodypart of the stopple projects into the inner container for the samepurpose, the flange 5 in this case serving merely to protect the seatagainst splash. In either case the lateral contact between'the dependingpart, flange or central body part as'the case may be, is rendered safefrom sticknew stopple is thus guarded against making any other thanpoint contacts with its seat, whether placed exactly central on the seator whether pushed to one side or the other while resting upon it and inconsequence, the danger of failure from sticking of the stop ple isreduced to a minimum. Preferably the ribs, 6 or'9, are inclined in orderto assist in guiding the stopple to a central position as well as tofacilitate manufacture.

The stopple is ordinarily made as a casting of lead or lead alloy andthe ribs and flange referred to are thus easily produced with noincrease of expense over the stopples now generally in use. It ispreferred to form thestopple with a central upstanding which the stopplecan be lifted out of the container.

1 claim 1. In a foam-type invertible extinguisher, an inner receptaclehaving a stopple seat, and a gravity stopple therefor having an upperpartadapted to seat vertically onthe stopple seat and a lower parthaving a plurality of projections adapted to make contact of small areawith the side of the stopple seat.

2. In a foan1type invertible extinguisher, an inner receptacle having astopple seat, and a gravity. stopple therefor having an upper seatingpart adapted to rest vertically on the seat and a lower centering partprovided 1 with inclined ribs adapted for lateral contact with the sideof said seat, each such rib formin only a contact of small area.

seating part adapted to rest vertically on said seat and having otherthan a line-contact with said seat, and a lower centering part providedwith inclined ribs adapted for lateralcontact with the side of saidseat, each such rib forming only a contact of small area. V

5. In a foam-type invertible extinguisher, i

an inner receptacle havinga stopple seat,-and a gravity stopple thereforadapted to seat vertically on the stopple seat and having an exteriorflange and a plurality of projections adapted to make contact of smallarea with the side of the stopple seat.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification.

ADDISON o. BONIFAOE.

